Macrofossils of Bang Lake in Carlton...
Transcript of Macrofossils of Bang Lake in Carlton...
Macrofossils of Bang Lake on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Carlton County
Sierra Lightfeather, Sienna Battees, Zak Howes, Deshawn Berglund, Bill Redding, Deshawn Campbell, Cecilia Abell, Mario Lazoya, Wayne Greensky, Ray Jones, Christa Drake, T.J. Ray, Mary Anderson, Lowana Greensky
Methods
Surface samples from Bang Lake were taken at four sites from a 50m2
area in less than 5m of water. Sediment samples were sieved through
1mm and 500 micron screens. Macrofossils were then picked from the
screened samples using tweezers and a low-powered microscope. The
macrofossils that were found were then identified to species using
macrofossil reference collection materials.
Definition
Macrofossils are plant remains (seeds, cones, leaves, flowers, needles)
found in lake sediment, bogs, and wetlands that can be seen without a
high-powered microscope. Macrofossils are used in conjunction with
pollen studies to find out more about the history of the local vegetation
around a body of water.
Plant Ojibwemowin Uses
Bog Birch binemzhbinemizhiins For smoking, to help respiratory ailments
Wild Rice manoomin Food
Paper Birch binemizhiins Canoes
Nodding Waternymph Food
Horsetail bebezhigooganzhii-ozow Used for tea for stomach sickness
Hardstem Bulrush Ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in making bread
Discussion
The sites 1,2,3, and 4 had evidence of different plants in them (Table 1).
Sites 1,2, and 4 had evidence of wild rice. The differences at the sites
could possibly be due to different nutrient levels (phosphorus, nitrogen),
sediment composition (sand, fine-grained, coarse-grained), or differences
in seed distribution (animals, waves, wind).
The water depth ranges of the plant evidence found matched the water
depth the samples were taken from. All plants grow in 5m or less of
water. Although, we did find evidence of terrestrial plants as well.
SITE 1
Plant Scientific Name Ojibwemowin
Ribbon-Leaf Pondweed Potamogeton epihydris
Bog Birch Betula pumilia binemzhbinemizhiins
Flat-Stem Pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis
Wild Rice Zizania palustris manoomin
SITE 2
Plant Scientific Name Ojibwemowin
Paper Birch Betula papyrifera wiigwaasi-mitig
Wild Rice Zizania palustris manoomin
Bottlebrush Sedge Carex comosa
Common Bugleweed Lycopus americanus
SITE 3
Plant Scientific Name Ojibwemowin
Nodding Waternymph Najas flexilis
Horsetail Equisetum spp. bebezhigooganzhii-ozow
Hardstem Bulrush Scirpus acutus
SITE 4
Plant Scientific Name Ojibwemowin
White Water-Lily Nymphaea tuberosa akandamoo
Wild Rice Zizania palustris manoomin
Water Milfoil Myriophyllum verticulatum waazhibiiya-aasaakamig
Aquatic Moss Bryales spp.
References
Birks, H.H. 2007. Plant macrofossil introduction.
Drake, C. 2011. Macrofossil reference collection images
manual.
Elias, Joan E., Heim, John A., Meeker, James E.
1994.Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa.
Table 1